We're dealing with Genesis 18-19 this Sunday which contains numerous passages that create difficulty. I will deal with some of them then, but I won't have time to look at the identity of the three visitors that Abraham meets in Chapter 18. In 18:1 the chapter begins with 'And the LORD appeared to him (Abraham)'. 18:2 goes on to say 'He (Abraham) lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him'. One of the men is identified as 'the LORD', a divine name for God.
The idea of Abraham meeting God in the appearance of a man passing by in the heat of the day causes concern to some. For me, the story is helpful as one of the biggest questions my children ask is 'can we see God'. Telling Bible stories about men who saw God and wrote down what he said is helpful. But did Abraham actually see God? What about Moses who is told that he cannot look upon God's face (Exodus 33:23)? Or Jesus who tells us that no one has seen the father (John 6:46)? Is this a contradiction?
Evangelical Old Testament scholar John Sailhamer reminds us of two theological truths about God regarding our question. One, God promises us his presence and two, God is transcendent, and therefore too much for us to look at (it is simply impossible for humans to fully grasp the divine). The divine visitor that Abraham hosts keeps the balance of these two ideas. God's presence is both with Abraham, but is not the full revelation of who God is. A good comparison would be Moses and the burning bush. The bush is a physical sign of the presence of God, God is speaking, but this is not all there is to God. So our answer is, no Abraham did not see the whole of God, but yes, the man he saw was a physical representation of the presence of God.
This must be included in our explanation to children as well. We need to explain how big God is, yet also teach how God has promised his presence. God will be with his people, never leaving, always near. Matthew 28:20, John 14:18, Galatians 3:14 are helpful here.
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What about these passages?
Genesis 32:30
So Jacob named that place Peniel, saying, "I have seen God face to face, but my life was saved."
Exodus 3:6
I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 24:9-11
9 Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up the mountain 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was a surface that looked as if it were paved with blue sapphire stones, and it was as clear as the sky!11 These leaders of the Israelites saw God, but God did not destroy them. Then they ate and drank together.
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